O

ver the years, the author

has experienced a number
of roofing projects where
concrete decks have con
tributed to latent defects
within newly installed roof
assemblies. Our investigations and subse
quent remediation of the roofing assemblies
prompted this article. Its purpose is to iden
tify both the design and installation chal
lenges and to provide recommendations
that will maximize success in these types of
applications.
In theory, concrete decks placed over
steel pans can make ideal substrates for
roof systems. In practice, they can be illsuited for the roof and associated insulation
assemblies. Concrete decks can depend
ing on some significant variables hold
water that, over time, rises into the assem
bly once the roof is in place. Due to a com
bination of design and construction condi
tions, a concrete deck can retain water for
extended periods, resulting in the satura
tion of moisture-sensitive components and
subsequent creation of blisters between the
cover board and the roof membrane.
A new construction roof design begins
with collaboration between architect and
structural engineer. Initial structural design
(i.e., wind, seismic loads, live and dead
loads, etc.) will dictate much of the deck cri
teria. There may also be specific architec
tural deck criteria to meet the building use
and building owner requirements. Type and
gauge of steel decking, concrete type and
mix, and placement of reinforcing are then
determined.
The steel pan supports the concrete and
provides the locking mechanism to form a
composite. The mechanical connection
between the concrete and the steel pan is

INTERFACE

Figure 1: Concrete slab and

metal deck composite assembly.

created by indentation patterns punched in

the vertical leg of the pan profile.
Positive roof drainage is achieved by:
1) Sloping the structural steel mem
bers; or
2) By an additional pour of lightweight
concrete over the structural slab; or
3) By installing tapered insulation over
a flat concrete slab.
The physical and performance proper
ties of the concrete, including compressive
strength, density, slump, and allowable
admixtures, are also defined within the
structural specifications. The concrete slur
ry is restrained within the metal profile,
eliminating the need for control joints in the
slab. Structural expansion joints are cut
through all components or formed with
pour stops to allow for building movement.
During the casting and curing process
of the slab, conditions may occur that will
allow for the retention of water. Voids, such
as rock pockets, can form reservoirs at the
deck interface. These voids can be
recharged with additional water percolating
through the slab.

If the steel pan is solid, any water that

enters the slab can become trapped.
To a large extent, cracking is a function
of mix design. Low water-to-cement ratios
are not only important for concrete
strength, they also reduce the likelihood
that capillary voids will form from mix water
not used in the hydration process. These
capillary voids can be relatively large in
comparison to other voids commonly expe
rienced in cured concrete and can notably
increase the overall permeability of a con
crete roof deck. Low water-to-cement ratios
are achieved through careful aggregate
selection and through the use of admix
tures. Some mix water will not be consumed
during curing; therefore, there should be
provisions to allow water to escape.
Mostly due to its relative low density
(compared with the other ingredients in
concrete), mix water rises to the top of the
slab; however, an impervious layer at either
face of the concrete slab can serve to trap
water not used in the hydration of the
cement. At the upper surface of deck, this
may occur if the smaller aggregate or fines
form a film or laitance. These fines can cure
AUGUST 2006

Figure 2: Roofing over concrete

deck assembly cut away.

to a film, forming a moisture barrier. Poor ing process. Depending on the prevailing
placement practices can create an addition atmospheric conditions, a typical concrete
al problem as rock-pocket voids can form at deck may take months to rid itself of excess
the bottom face of the roof deck. Concrete water. Ideally, unused mix water will
cure water in combination with water that migrate to the upper surface and evaporate
enters cracks in the slab can become prior to the application of roofing materials.
trapped within the rock pockets, resulting Some water will also migrate downward and
in a water reservoir between the concrete accumulate at the slab and pan interface.
and the steel pan.
Fluted decks with perforations or steel
A number of field application techniques decks that have been breached will allow for
can exacerbate slab pitfalls over the solid this moisture to pass to the interior.
steel pan. A solid pan can retain water if
Concrete decks typically cure for a peri
there is residual
od of 28 days to
mix water not
reach
design
consumed in the
strength. During
hydration of the
this four-week per
cement and/or
iod, the deck is ex
rainwater that per
posed to weather,
colates through
including rain. In
cracks to the steel
some cases, the
pan
interface.
concrete surface is
Voids in the con
treated with sodi
crete can accumu
um silicate or
late water, which
other
chemical
will run to low
compounds
to
points in the pan Figure 3: Core into a concrete slab to the solid
bind the free lime,
and remain for an pan below.
reducing the pene
extended period of
tration of water
time. Changes to the concrete mix, such as into the slab. Roofing usually begins when
the addition of water on site (a common the moisture levels are low enough to
practice used to increase workability and ensure a quality bond between the deck and
facilitate placement), can change the mix the adhesive materials used to bond the
and make it more susceptible to moisture first roofing component. Some of the more
retention. This can increase the number of common test methods used to determine
capillary voids, the permeability of the con the suitability of the deck as a bonding sub
crete, and quantity of the mix water not strate include:
consumed in the hydration of the cement.
Asphalt Pour Test (traditional
The curing methods employed can also
roofing method): a pint of hot
play a role in surface cracking of the con
asphalt is poured onto the deck at
crete pour. Weather, during both the casting
the specified temperature to deter
and cure, will play a significant role in the
mine if a bond is formed between the
suitability of the deck as a roofing substrate
asphalt and the concrete deck. If the
since a primary source of the water will, in
asphalt begins to froth or the cooled
virtually all cases, come from precipitation.
asphalt can easily be peeled from
Generally speaking, about half of the mix
the deck, it is not, at the time of test
water will be consumed in the chemical curing, suitable for asphalt application.
AUGUST 2006

INTERFACE

inch) of the slab.

This litmus test only addresses the
moisture content within approxi
During the cure period, water (either
mately the first inch of the concrete
pour and will not detect moisture from rain or wet curing techniques) can
accumulate and run over the exposed slab
that may reside deeper in the slab.
The Black Mat Test (ASTM D surface. If the deck is sloped, water will run
4263): A black mat formed from to drains or scuppers. Water will accumuEPDM or polyethylene is applied to late in depressions and enter cracks in the
the deck surface and taped at the concrete and transitions between the slab
edges. The mat is kept in place for a and penetrations such as curbs, rising
period of 16 hours. After exposure to walls, plumbing vents, and structural
sunlight for the specified period, the expansion joints. Flutes in the metal pan
mat is removed to reveal either a dry hold water within linear cells, limiting the
or wet surface. This test is a pass or distribution of the water throughout the
fail method of determining whether slab. Periods of intense heat such as hot
or not there is moisture in the slab summer days will evaporate some of the
that could rise and inhibit the bond accumulated water at the deck surface. The
of the adhesive to the concrete deck. extent of evaporation will depend on the
This test typically provides data on time of year and the intensity of the sun
only the top one to
two inches of the
slab.
Calcium Chloride
Test (ASTM F
1869): A test kit
includes a tray con
taining
calcium
chloride crystals
inside a chamber
that is sealed to the
surface of the con
crete deck. The
crystals will absorb
water over the 60
to 72-hour test
period. At the con Figure 4 (above) and Figure 5 (right): Poor
clusion of the test, adhesion of primer over a wet concrete
they are removed substrate. Long night seals can be sources of
and
weighed. water under newly installed roof assemblies.
Based on the mea
sured moisture, a
formula is applied that provides the light. In addition, the
number of pounds of water that are intensity and duration of
emitted from the slab surface per rainfall determine the
thousand square feet per 24-hour amount of water that can
period. The test results indicate the enter the slab, recharging
quantity of water emitted over the any water that may be
test period, not necessarily the removed as a result of high
quantity of water within the slab. surface temperatures.
After roof installation
The test is relative, providing data as
to the suitability of the surface to begins, more water can
the application of adhered materials. accumulate under the newly installed roof
Impedance Testing (commonly assembly, destroying in-place components.
referred to as Capacitance Test A typical roof installation begins at the low
ing): Concrete-specific moisture point, working to the high points of the
meters are commercially available, deck. To protect the assembly from water
and when calibrated to laboratory- entry, long night seals or waterstops are
tested concrete core samples, can needed at the edge to prevent water from
effectively measure the relative penetrating under the newly laid assembly.
moisture on the surface (within one Should there be rain after completion of a
6

INTERFACE

days work, water will build up on the high

side of the tie-offs, creating a head of pres
sure at the seam. Even a minor imperfec
tion in the seal can allow substantial
amounts of water under the newly installed
roof assembly. Water cannot flow to the
drains until it builds up to the height of the
new roof assembly. The water is trapped at
the night seal, seeking a point of entry.
Creative means and methods can main
tain water paths to drains and divert water
away from night seals; however, they are
rarely employed, especially on very large
roof installations where a night seal can run
hundreds of feet.
In tropical and semi-tropical zones, the
problems can be more acute. These zones
are more prone to hurricanes where con
crete decks are specified to resist higher
wind loads. Curing of large concrete slabs in
tropical zones is especially difficult due to
extreme daytime temperatures and daily
rainfall. The short but intense rains chal
lenge the best of roofers in maintaining an
uphill water cut-off. While these can be
common challenges in tropical and subtrop
ical areas, similar problems can occur fur
ther north where unusual rain patterns can
bring greater than normal rainfall during
the period of slab cure and roof installation.
Traditional test methods to determine
the presence and levels of moisture within
the slab are not designed to measure mois

ture trapped within the composite and with

in concentrated areas of cracks. This mois
ture may well elude the typical test meth
ods, providing a false reading of dry.
Even when deck surfaces are not tested
for moisture levels, there can be clear signs
of inadequate bond, even during the appli
cation of primer. High levels of moisture
within the concrete will inhibit the bond
AUGUST 2006

Figure 6 (left) and

Figure 7 (below):
Perforated steel
pans.

between the primer and the deck.

Figures 4 and 5 show poor adhe
sion of the primer during the
removal of a night seal, exposing
the concrete surface.
On this specific project, poor
adhesion of the primer was identi
fied after roofing had commenced.
The concrete deck surface was
tested for moisture using calcium
chloride test kits. Test results
indicated that within a 24-hour period,
moisture levels emitted from the concrete
were 22 pounds per thousand square feet of
deck. This equates to 2.75 gallons of water
emitted from the 4-inch slab per thousand
square feet. For comparative purposes,
vinyl flooring should not be applied to a
concrete slab when emitted moisture levels
exceed 3 pounds per thousand square feet.
A hand-held capacitance meter that was not
calibrated to a core sample indicated the
deck surface was below 10% at the time
roof installation commenced. This is a fur
ther indication that caution should be used
with current test methods especially when
there is a thick concrete pour.
If the presence of moisture within the
concrete slab is a potential challenge in the
application of a successful roof assembly,
what steps can be taken to minimize or
eliminate the impact of the presence of
water?

in the composite deck. In most cases, there

is some extrusion of the concrete slurry
through the perforations in the deck; however, this is only a concern when the deck is

exposed to the interior space. If the underside of the deck is painted, minor amounts
of concrete exposed on the underside are
hardly noticed.

The Steel Deck

Specify a perforated deck assembly that
will allow for the mechanical connection of
the concrete to deck but will also allow for
the exfiltration of water from the composite
assembly. Perforated steel pans are avail
able from most suppliers. Engineering data
as to performance are readily available
through the Steel Deck Institute and roll
formers of the deck profiles. This one
change in the specification will significantly
reduce the potential of trapped water withAUGUST 2006

INTERFACE

The Concrete Mix

The concrete mix should have low water
content. It should also be free of admixtures
that can inhibit the adhesive bond or dam
age components of the roof assembly. The
submittal process should include a transfer
of the admixture data to the roof membrane
manufacturer for review and acceptance
prior to the concrete pour. Care should be
taken during the curing process to avoid
alteration of the mix to enhance transporta
bility. The addition of water can change crit
ical properties of the concrete, making it
more susceptible to water retention and the
formation of capillaries.

surface and mini

mizing water entry
into the concrete.
There are numerous
commercially avail
able surface prepa
rations that can be
utilized for this pur
pose. Care should
be taken to ensure
the treatment is
compatible with the
intended roof as
sembly and related
adhesives.

Figure 8: Example of spot-attached base ply installed

in an over-mopping of asphalt over
a primed deck.

Crack Control
While it is not
feasible to eliminate
shrinkage cracking
in a concrete roof
deck, it can, for the
most part, be con
trolled. Even with
appropriate crackcontrol techniques,
the flutes and inden
tations in a steel
deck will have the
effect of partial
restraint of the con
crete within the com
posite deck, which
may cause hairline
cracks to develop
throughout the con
crete as it cures. Figure 9 (above): Example of semiThese small cracks adhered modified bitumen base
can be sources of sheet.
water entry into the
Figure 10 (right): Steel deck

composite assembly.
with perforated flutes.

Hairline cracks in
the concrete surface
are inevitable. Covering the deck with plas
tic or wet tarps as a part of the cure process
can minimize water entry but will not total
ly eliminate it. If the steel deck is perforated The Roof Assembly
The type of roof assemblies designed for
and the concrete mix is designed to mini
mize residual moisture after cement hydra this application can also minimize the
tion, hairline cracking and subsequent impact of moisture within the deck assem
water entry at penetration joints should not bly. These types of roof systems should be
significantly contribute to the long-term considered when a roof must be applied
before the completion of the 28-day cure,
accumulation of water.
when some level of residual moisture can be
Surface Preparations
expected. The deck must be dry enough to
Chemical treatments such as sodium accept ASTM D-41 primer or other adhe
silicate can be applied to the deck surface sives, creating a strong bonding interface
that will bind the free lime on the top 1/16" between the concrete deck and roof assem
of the deck surface, maximizing bond bly components. The adhesion should be
strength of the adhesives to the concrete tested prior to full-scale application of any
8

INTERFACE

roofing. The following are some design con

siderations that can assist in the control of
moisture, should it be present in the con
crete deck.
Base Sheet and Vapor Retarder
The first membrane layer can be applied
in a spot-attached manner to allow for the
lateral movement of moisture below the roof
assembly. This can be achieved by the
application of spot-attached systems that
are available in both self-adhered and
torch-applied configurations.
In addition, spot-attached base sheets
that are applied dry and mopped over with
hot asphalt, creating
intermittent points of
attachment, have been
available for years. The
spot-attached base plies
have been tested for high
wind uplift capabilities
and have credible test
data to indicate they can
provide service in most
high-wind uplift condi
tions. The spot-attached sheet can form the
base for the vapor retarder or the base ply
for the roofing assembly, depending on the
specified system.
Vented Base Flashings
The spot-attached base sheet will allow
for the lateral movement of moisture under
the base ply. This moisture must have a
point of egress or it will eventually enter the
roof assembly. To remedy this, metal upstands can be installed at the perimeter,
allowing moisture to migrate and exit the
roof assembly. Joints in the metal are
AUGUST 2006

Figure 11:
Splice plate for
perimeter
upstand.

closed with a metal cover plate secured to

one side and allowed to move on the other.
Membrane Venting:
One-way vents are available to allow for
the release of moisture within the deck and
roof assembly without allowing moisture to

AUGUST 2006

pass back into the roof assembly. These

vents have proven effective in small areas
around the vent only. To be effective, a high
density of vents is needed, but the use of a
large population of vents must be weighed
against the many penetrations in the mem
brane and the resultant potential for leaks.

INTERFACE

Figure 12: Metal up-stand

at perimeter to allow
for venting.

Crickets and Saddles:

Moisture gain in perlite or wood fiberboard may be a result of moisture within
the deck; however, it may also be a result of
other application conditions that may allow
surface moisture to enter the roof assembly.
These potential sources of water are comprehensively addressed in an article
authored by Richard Canon, entitled, Infiltration of Moisture into Perlite Crickets and
Saddles.1
CONCLUSIONS
Concrete roof decks are, in most cir
cumstances, an excellent substrate for the
application of roofing assemblies. The
design and construction of the deck will
determine the potential for moisture retention and the suitability of the roof assembly.
Roofing and accessory materials are

available to design wind-resistant roof

assemblies that will tolerate some level of
elevated moisture within the concrete deck
and provide points of egress to protect the
roofing components.
The structural engineer, architect, and
roof consultant must collaborate through
out all stages of design to minimize water
retention in the deck and to choose the opti
mal roof assembly for the project.
The structural slab should be tested
prior to application of roofing to ensure that
there is minimal moisture present.
References
1
Richard P. Canon, RRC, FRCI, PE,
Infiltration of Moisture into Perlite
Crickets and Saddles, Interface,
July/August, 1993. Reprinted from
Roofer Magazine.

Colin Murphy, RRC, FRCI

Colin Murphy founded Exterior Research & Design, LLC (orig
inally Trinity Engineering, Inc.) in Seattle, Washington, in

1986 and has since expanded the firm to include offices in

Waterbury, Connecticut, and Portland, Oregon. Colin is a

Registered Roof Consultant and has been elected to the RCI

Jury of Fellows. He also is a LEED-Accredited Professional, a

certified EIFS Third-Party Inspector, and an ICC-certified

Building Inspector. Colin is the principal author of The Roof

Construction Guide for General Contractors, published in 1998

by RCI. He has been honored with both the Richard M.

Horowitz and the Herbert Busching awards by RCI.

10 INTERFACE

AUGUST 2006